The Women of Influence banquet will open the Canadian Interuniversity Sports national women's basketball championship tournament at downtown Windsor's St. Clair Centre for the Performing Arts on Thursday, March 17, with the presentation of major awards to the sport's athletes.

Besides honouring player, rookie, and coach of the year, the banquet will profile a number of local women, including:

Sheila Wisdom (BA 2001, LLD 2004), former executive director, United Way of Windsor-Essex County

Chosen for the significant impact they have made as a woman of influence in their professions and their communities, they serve as role models for what can be achieved in life post-graduation and will help to present the awards.

The event will be chaired by Colleen and Richard Peddie; Leafs TV reporter Andi Petrillo will act as master of ceremonies.

It begins at 5:30 p.m. with hors d'oeuvres; dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $100 per person, available from Mary-Ann Rennie, special events manager, at 519-253-3000, ext. 7059.